Container



J. S. DONNELL Jan. 8, 1952 CONTAINER 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Filed Aug. 9, 1950 I ,lll J Jan. 8, 1952 l J. s. DONNELL CONTAINER 2 sHEEas-SHEET 2 Filed Aug. 9, 1950 Patented Jan. 8, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT omer: 1

Application August 9, 195i), Serial No. 178,542

l5 claims. (craze-19) 1, IIfvhe present `invention -relates generally to containers. More particularly the invention relates to that type of container which is designed for use in shipping various articles, is formed of comparatively stiff material, such, for example, as double faced corrugated board, and comprises anormally lhorizontal open ended sleeve of rectangular cross section and an open top box-like article `receiving and retaining tray which is adapted to slide into the sleeve in order to close its open top and seal the articles and also to slide out of the sleeve for article exposing purposes and has the sides thereof of multi-wall construction, i. e., plural thickness.

One object of the invention is to provide a shipping container of this type which is an improvement upon, and has certain advantages over, previously designed containers of the same ,general construction and is characterized by the fact that it includes -a simple and novel readily releasable latch arrangement for preventing vsliding movement of the tray with respect to ythe sleeve when it is disposed -in its closedposition in the sleeve. A

. .Anotherobject of the invention is to provide a shipping container of the vlast mentioned character inwhich the releasable latch arrangement vfor securing the :box-like tray Within the nor- -mally horizontal open ended sleeve consists of a llocking tongue which is 'formedas -anintegral `part 'of the central portion of lone of the sides of Athe csleeve and is hinged so that it is capable of being swung inwards into a latched position wherein it is in interlocked or intertting relation with an opening in the outer wall of the adjacent V side of the tray and also outwards into an unlatched position wherein it is free of the opening :and hence .permits the tray to be slid out of the sleeve. l

Agfurther-object of the invention is to provide a shippingcontainer of the type and character under consideration in which the distal or free endfportion of the hinged locking tongue consituting la part -of the latch arrangement is provided with laterally extending ears which when the tongue is in lits latched position within the opening in the central portion of the outer wall of the adjacent side of the tray are adapted to be bent inwards and then inserted between the innervwall` of said adjacent Side and the portions ofthe cuter wall that denne the tongue receiving opening in order that they serve rmly lbut rel'ea'sably to secure the locking tongue yin its latched position.

vA still 'further object of the invention is to .provide -a shipping container which Ais generally oi new and improved construction and is "so designed and constructed that "the releas'able latch arrangement "for securing the tray in the sleeve `does not add to the cost of the container as a whole.

Other objects fof the invention and the 'various advantages and characteristics of the .present container -will be apparent .from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the v.several novel features which Aare hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.v

-In the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification or disclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote-corresponding parts throughout the several views:y

Figure 1 isr a `top perspective Ashowing a shipping conta-incr embodying the `invention with the locking tongue in its latched position wherein it serves to hold the lbox-like tray `in the sleeve;

Figure 2 -is a top perspective showing the -locking tongue Vin its unlatched position and the ltray after lit has been slid partially out of the sleeve;

rFigure 3 is a fragmentary perspective of the tray illustrating 'in detail the manner .in which it .is lformed lor constructed; v n l Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken -on the line A---d offFigure l, showing the locking tongue in its locked position and illustrating the manner in which lthe laterally extending ears on 'the distal or outer end portion of the tongue serve firmly but releasably to secure the tongue Iin such position; Y

Figure 5 is a vertical Ylongitudinal section taken on .the line 5 5 of Figure 1; and u A Figure -6 is a vertical transverse section on the lineB-S of Figure 5. y l

"The container which is illustrated in the drawings constitutes the preferred form or em'- bcdiment of the invention.` It is primarily designed as a medium -or instrumentality for retaining or shipping various articles and as its components comprises a sleeve l0 and an open top box-like tray Il. These components are preferably .formed .of comparatively stiii, double Yfaced corrugated board in order that the icontainer as a Whole possesses the desired rigidity and strength. Generally speaking, the container is rectangular and its height is materially less than its width and length. Each of the two aforementioned components is 'formed of a oneside I3 and the other side margin of the top 'is formed separately from the top margin 4of the other side but is joined thereto by a strip I6 of adhesive tape. The central portion of the side I3 of the sleeve I0 is die cut in order to form a locking tongue I1. The latter is substantially the same in height as the side I3 and has the lower margin thereof joined to the central por-v tion of the adjacent side margin of the sleeve bottom I2 by a hinge variety fold I8 in order that it is free to swing inwards and outwards relatively to the side I3. The distal or free end portion of the hinged locking tongue is provided at the sides thereof with integral laterally extending ears I9 and these, as described more in detail hereafter, serve firmly but releasably to securethe locking tongue in its latched position with respect to the box-like tray I I. The central part of said distal or free end portion of the locking tongue is provided with a substantially semi-circular notch 29 in order that the tongue may be readily gripped in connection with swinging thereof irito and out of its latched position. The ears I8 are capable of being bent inwards with respect to the locking tongue I1.

The Vopen top box-like tray II is shaped conformably to, and is adapted to slide into and` out of,- the interior of the normally horizontal open ended sleeve I0. It is of unitary design or construction and consists of a bottom 2 I, ends 22 and sides 23. The ends and sides of the'tray extend upwards at right angles to the bottom 2| and define with the latter an open top com- Y partment for articles. The tray 2| is the same in shape and substantially the same in size as the bottom I2 of the sleeve I0. The ends of the tray are of uniform height from end to end and consist of outer walls 24 and inner walls 25. The bottom margins of the outer walls 24 are formed integrally with the end margins of the bottom 2| and are connected thereto by right angle folds or bends 26. The inner walls 25 of the tray ends 22 are the same in shape as the outer walls 24 and have the top margins thereof joined to the top margins of the outer walls by 4Vinverted U-shaped folds 21. The end margins of the inner walls 25 of the tray ends 22 are provided with integral flaps 28 and these extend inwards from,and at right angles to, said inner walls 25. The sides 23 of the tray VI-I are the same in height as the ends 22 and consist of outer walls 29 and inner walls 30. The bottom margins of the-outer walls 29 are formed 'integrally with the side margins of the bottom 2| and are connected theretoby right angle folds or bends 3|. The end margins of the outer walls 29 are provided with integral inwardly extending right angle aps 32 which fit between the end portions ofthe outer and inner walls of the tray ends 22. The outer walls 29 of the tray sides 23 have full height rectangular openings 33 formed therein. The portions of the outer walls 29 that locked.

define the sides of the openings 23 are provided inwards and then outwards so that they extendin lapped relation with the inner surfaces of the outer walls 29. The openings 23 are of such size and shape that they are adapted to receive the locking tongue when the latter is swung inwards into its latched position. When the tray I I is disposed wholly within the sleeve I9 it may be locked or latched in place by swinging the locking tongue I1 inwards so that it is in interlocked or interfitting relation with the rectangular opening in the central portion of the outer wall 29 that `is -directly adjacent the side I3 of the sleeve. To release the tray so that it may be slid outwards it is only necessary to swing the locking tongue I1 outwards as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. The outer walls of both sides of the tray are provided with central tongue receiving openings in order that it is immaterial which side of the tray Yis adjacent the side I3 of the sleeve. The inner walls 30 of the tray sides 23 are substantially the same in shape as the outer Walls 29 and have the top margins thereof joined to the top margins of said outer walls by inverted U-shaped folds 35'. The bottom margins of the inner walls 3|) are provided with integral downwardly extending tongues 36 and these, as best shown in Figures 2 and 5 t within slots 31 in the side margins of the tray bottom 2|. The flaps 21 on the end margins of the inner walls 25 of the tray ends 22 fit between the end portions of the outerv and inner walls of the tray sides 23 and are disposed in alignment with, and directly outwards of, the flaps 34 on the portions of the outer walls 29 that define the sides of the openings 33.

In assembling the tray II the outer walls 29 of the tray ends are swung upwards with respect to the bottom 2| while the inner walls 30 are in substantially coplanar relation therewith. Thereafter the outer walls 24 of the tray ends are swung upwards with respect to the tray bottom while the inner walls 25 are in substantially coplanar relation therewith. After this operation the flaps 32 on the end margins of the outer walls 29 are swung outwards into lapped relation with the inner surfaces-of the end portions ofthe outer walls 24 of the tray ends. Thereafter the inner walls 25 of the tray ends are swung inwards and downwards and the flaps 21 are swung outwards into lapped relation with the inner surfaces of the end portions of the outer walls 29. At the conclusion of this step or operation the inner walls 39 of the tray sides are swung inwards and downwards. During such swinging of the inner walls 39 the tongues 36 move into interlocked relation with the slots 31. After assembly the tray is slid into the sleeve I0. When it is desired to lock or latch the tray in the sleeve the locking tongue I1 is swung inwards into interlocked or intertting relation with the opening inthe outer wall 29 that is disposed directly adjacent the side I3 of the sleeve. In connection with swinging of the locking tongue into its latched position the laterally extending ears I9 are bent inwards and are inserted between the inner wall 30 ofthe adjacent tray sides and the portions of the outer wall of said adjacent tray side that denne the opening with which the locking tongue is inter- When access to the articles in the tray is desired the locking tongue I1 is swung outwards into its unlocked position. In connection with outward swinging of the locking tongue the ears I9 slide out of their seated position between the inner and outer walls of the adjacent side of the tray. As soon as the locking tongue is swung into its unlocked position the tray isrfree so that it ,may be slidv out .of the sleeve l0 as shown in Figure '2.

The `herein described shipping container effectively and efficiently fullls its intended purpose and is Acharacterized by the fact that it includes vthe. aforementioned novel latch arrangement whereby it is possible to lock or latch the tray in the sleeve. In view of the Vparticular manner in which the latch arrangement is formed the 'container as a whole may be produced at a reasonable cost.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth since these may be modified `within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 1

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a shipping container consisting of a normally horizontal open ended sleeve formed of comparatively stii material, embodying a bottom, a top in spaced relation with the bottom and a pair of sides between the side margins of said bottom and top, and having on a portion of one of its sides a locking tongue which is hinged so that it is free to swing inwards and outwards with respect to the one side, and an open top box-like tray formed of comparatively stili material, shaped conformably to, and adapted to slide into and out of, the interior of the sleeve and embodying a bottom and upstanding ends and sides, the side of the tray that is normally in sliding engagement with said one side of the sleeve comprising an inner wall andan outer wall and having in its outer wall an opening that is positioned opposite to, and is shaped to receive, the locking tongue when the tray isslid fully into the sleeve, said locking tongue being adapted when the tray is slid fully into the sleeve to be swung inwards into a latched position wherein it is interlocked with said opening and secures the tray against the sliding movement relatively to the sleeve and being also adapted to be swung out wards into an lunlatched position wherein it releases the tray so that it may be slid with respect to the sleeve.

2. Asa new article of manufacture, a shipping container consisting of a normally horizontal open ended sleeve formed of comparatively stiif material, embodying a bottom, a top in spaced relation with the bottom and a pair of sides between the side margins of said bottom and top, and having the central portion of one of its sides cut to form an integral locking tongue which is hinged so that it is free to swing inwards and outwards with respect to the one side, and an open top box-like tray formed of comparatively stiff material, shaped conformably to, and adapted to slide into and out of, the interior of the sleeve and embodying a bottom and upstanding ends and sides, the side of the tray that is normally in sliding engagement with said one side of the sleeve comprising an inner wall and an outer wall and having in the central portion of its outer wall an opening that is positioned opposite to, and is shaped to receive the locking tongue when the tray is slid fully into the sleeve, said locking tongue being adapted when the tray is slid fully into the sleeve to be swung inwards into a latched position wherein it is interlocked with said opening and secures the tray against sliding movement relatively to the sleeve and vbeing also adapted to` ybe :swung :outwards in an unlatched position wherein it releases the tray so that it may be slid `with 'respect to the sleeve. I

3. As a new article of manufacture, a shipping container consisting vof a normally' horizontal open ended sleeve formed of double faced corrugated board, embodying a bottom, a top in spaced relation with the bottom and a pair rof sides between the side margins of said bottom and top. and having the central portion of one of its sides cut to form an integral rupstanding locking tongue which is hinged at its lower end so that it is free to swing inwards and outwards 'with respect to the one-side, and an open top box-like tray formed of double faced corrugated board, shaped conformably to, and adapted to slide into and Out 0f., the interiorof the sleeve and embodying a bottom and upstanding ends and sides, the side of the tray that is normally in; sliding engagement with said one side of the sleeve comprising an innerwall and an outer wall and having in the central portion of the outer wall an opening that is positioned opposite to, and is shaped to receive, the locking tongue when the tray is slid fully into the sleeve, said locking tongue being adapted when the tray is slid fully into the sleeve to be swung inwards into a latched position wherein it is interlocked with said opening and secures the tray against sliding movement relatively to the sleeve and being also adapted to be swung outwards into an unlatched position wherein it releases the tray so that it may be slid with respect to the sleeve. v

4. As a new article of manufacture, a shipping container consisting of a normally horizontal open ended sleeve formed of comparatively stii material, embodying a bottom, a itop in spaced relation with the bottom and a pair of sides between the side margins of said bottom and top, and having on a portion of one of its sides a locking tongue which is hinged so that it is free to swing inwards and outwards with respect to the one side, and an open top box-like tray formed of comparatively stiff material, shaped conformably to, and adapted to slide into and out of, the interior of the sleeve and embodying a bottom and upstanding ends and sides, the side of the tray that is normally in sliding engagement with said one side of the sleeve comprising an inner wall and an outer wall in spaced relation with the inner wall and having-in its outer wall an opening that is positioned opposite to, and is shaped to receive, the locking tongue when .the tray is slid fully into the sleeve, said locking tongue being adapted when the tray is slid fully into the sleeve to be swung inwards .into a latched position wherein it is interlocked with said opening and secures the tray against sliding movement relatively to the sleeve, being also adapted to be swung outwards into an unlatched position wherein it releases the tray so that it may be slid with respect to the sleeve, and having on its distal portion a laterally extending ear adapted when the tongue is in its latched position to fit between the inner wall and a part of the opening deining portion of the outer wall in such manner that it serves firmly but releasably to hold the tongue in its said latched position.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a shipping container consisting of a normally horizontal open ended sleeve formed of double faced corrugated board, embodying a bottom, a top in spaced relation with the bottom and a pair of sides between the side margins of said bottom and top,

and having. the central portion of rone of its sides cut to form an integrallupstanding locking tongue which is hinged at its lower end so that itis free to swing inwards and outwards with respect to the .one.side, and an open top box-like tray formed of double faced corrugatedboard,. shaped conformably to, and adapted to slide into and out zofr, the interior of the sleeve and embodying `a bottom and upstanding `ends and sides, the

side of the tray that Ais normally in sliding en.. gagement with said oneside of thersleeve cornprising an inner Wall and anrouter wall in spaced relation with the inner wall-and having in the central portion Aof the outer wall an opening that is positioned opposite to, and is shaped to receive, the locking` tongue when the tray is slid fully into the sleeve, said locking tongue being adapted when the tray is slid fully into the sleeve to be swung inwards into a latched position'wherein it is interlocked with said opening and secures the tray against sliding movement relatively to 'the sleeve, being 'also adapted to be swung out- Wards into an unlatched position wherein. it releases the tray so that it may be slid with respect to the sleeve, and having at its upper end a pair of oppositely and laterally extending bendable ears adapted when the tongue is inl its latched position to t between the inner wall and the portions of the outer Wall that dene the sides of the opening that they serve rmly ybut vreleasably to secure the tongue in Vits said latched position. f, Y JOHN S. DONNELL.

No references cited. 

